Day 20: Floral

These are my Johnny Jump Up/Pansy nails with OPI Passion, Essie Splash of Grenadine, Ciaté Big Yellow Taxi, Ulta Duty Free Shopping Spree, Essence Break Through, and Seche Collected Moments.

February Day 11: Pastel

I used OPI Pink-ing of You for the base, Essie In the Cab-ana and L'Oréal Royalty Reinvented for the polka dots, and Orly Instant Artist Crisp White for the stripe. I applied Ciaté Cutie Pie (a light, sheer pink) over the entire design to soften the colors.

Royal Ruffian

This ruffian was inspired by colors of royalty: Essie Beyond Cozy and OPI Suzi and the 7 Düsseldorfs.

May's Purple Thursday Week 3 - Delayed Post

Note: I did try to upload this post on-time, and I believed that it had uploaded. I was very disappointed to see that it never did. Since then, I've tried repeatedly to upload this post, gotten an error message, and then became very frustrated with the whole complicated, problem-ridden procedure. Now I'm back and hopefully I won't encounter the same issue. 

I decided to do Galaxy nails with my poor rendition of the USS Enterprise...because I'm seeing Star Trek tonight. 

I used Barielle Hidden Hideaway, L'Oréal Royalty Reinvented, Essie Splash of Grenadine, Ciaté Magic Carpet, Orly Instant Artist Crisp White, and OPI Pirouette My Whistle. Plus a Essence polish I can't remember the name of (stat tuned). 

A Cotton Candy Fairy Tale rendered in Pastels

What is this? Pastel gradient? Cotton Candy gradient? Fairy-tale gradient? Can it be all three please?

I used Essie Marshmallow as the base and then SinfulColors Cinderella, Glass Pink, and Mint Apple for the gradient. I added OPI Pirouette My Whistle for an even softer/fairy-like look. 

I've gotten some questions on how I do gradients and, personally, it depends on what colors and formulas are involved. For example, since each polish (the blue, pink, and green) is really sheer, I used one coat of white (Essie Marshmallow) for a base so that the finish manicure would be solid (no visible nail line) and would not interfere with the actual gradient colors. 

I'm going to be trying to describe how I do each gradient from here on out.

Loaded Gradient

In a desperate attempt to make up for all the days without having my nails done, I did a gradient, glitter, and rhinestones manicure. I don't usually have so many things going on at the same time, but I do love it!

I used Ciaté Speed Dial, Dangerous Affair, and Cabaret, OPI Pirouette My Whistle, and Cina Rhinestones.

In case the pictures don't really show it well, it goes from orangey-red, to red, to purple.

Ruffian Girl

So I tried my hand at the ruffian style manicure for the first time using OPI Pedal Faster Suzi! and Ciaté Headliner. I love how the colors look together, especially the contrast because Pedal Faster Suzi! has a pink/silver shimmer and Headliner has a subtle gold sparkle.

For this look I just painted my base color and then added the second color but with some distance away from my cuticles. So it did take time and a steady hand. I still need practice to get a better curve, but it was fun twist on just regular nail painting.

A Full-On Dotticure

I was inspired by Lucy at Lucy's Stash for this dotticure. I couldn't get the vibrant purples to correctly show up although I tried several poses and lighting arrangements. The base is Barielle Grape Escape and the polka dots are SinfulColors Mint Apple and Pink Forever, OPI Pink-ing of You, and Essie Licorice. 

I did the same design on both of my hands. You can see my dominant right hand at the bottom of the page. I thought it turned out pretty well...especially since it got so repetitive.

Left Hand - Indoor Lighting

Left Hand - Indoor Lighting

Left Hand - Natural Light

Right Hand - Natural Light

Cotton Candy Reminiscent

I finally got some real inspiration for a manicure. I dreamt I was wearing this combo so I had to recreate it, and I'm happy to say it turned out as planned. With a gradient that contains all of the colors of cotton candy I have ever consumed and delicate sparkles and glitter I couldn't stop staring. I used OPI Pink-ing of You, Ciaté Headliner, Ulta Duty Free Shopping Spree, and OPI Pirouette My Whistle.

Dark and Light - Gradients and Feathers

I was inspired by Kaitlin Ferland at The Daily Polish for this mix of light and dark. I used black polish for the index and pinky finger and have determined that I think black looks more sinister on oval/almond shaped nails. Then I did a blue-purple-pink gradient over a white base and layered a sheer pink over that to tone down the colors a bit. Then I tried my hand at drawing feathers.

Note: Why do my nails look so short in photos? They are actually pretty long...longer than how long I would let them get when I had square shaped nails.

I used Essie Licorice, Julep Kate, Ulta Blue Streak, Barielle Grape Escape, Orly Butterflies, OPI Passion, and Orly Instant Artist Jet Black.

Bows and Polka Dots

A friend of mine loves Hello Kitty and asked me to do a Hello Kitty manicure. She showed me a pic of it, but I don't know who originally did that manicure. All the nails, except the accent nail, were very much like my version of it. Unfortunately, I can't draw to save my life. So I tried to do Hello Kitty's bow instead of drawing her. I think my right hand turned our better but figured I would post both...it was my first time doing bows and this tutorial by The Daily Polish was really helpful.

I used SinfulColors Pink Forever, Orly Instant Artist Crisp White and Jet Black, Julep Kate, and, for the bow only, OPI Pink-ing of You and Nicole by OPI Here Kim's the Sun.

Left Hand

Right Hand

OPI Pedal Faster Suzi!

This is a swatch of OPI Pedal Faster Suzi! It is a shimmery and creamy light pink that I absolutely love.

Nude to Purple Gradient

For this nude to purple gradient I used Essence Nude It!, Ulta Duty Free Shopping Spree, OPI Purple With a Purpose, and Essie Pure Pearlfection. Recently my gradients have taken so many layers of polish to get a nice fade that they end up being really thick and taking a long time to dry. I need to take my time for my next gradient, giving each layer some time to dry.

Crazy Cute Mix and Match

For this Mix and Match mani, I was inspired by Adventure Time, Domo, cupcakes, and color. Typically Mix and Match style is not one I would wear but it's perfect for those times when you want an overload of cuteness and when you are going to California Adventure, like I am today! If you have any questions about the design please feel free to ask me in the comment section below.

Here is a list of all the polishes used:
Elle Riviera Blue
Essie Licorice
Julep Kate and Sophie
OPI Pink-ing of You, Passion, I'm Not Really a Waitress, and Purple With a Purpose
Orly Instant Artist Jet Black and Crisp White
SinfulColors Hazard, Pink Forever, and Nirvana
Ulta Sun-Sational, Limelight, Blue Streak, Duty Free Shopping Spree

For the glitter gradient on my right middle finger, I used Essie A Cut Above and Milani Teal and Hot Pink

Left Hand

Left Hand

Right Hand

Right Hand

Minnie Mouse Inspired

For a recent trip to Disneyland and California Adventure I borrowed my sister's shirt and that, along with the work of @ohtammm on Instagram, inspired my Minnie Mouse nail design.

The design is the same on both hands but just showed my non-dominant hand.
Thumb: SinfulColors Pink Forever with Orly Instant Artist Crisp White
Index: Julep Kate and I dipped a straw into Essie Licorice, SinfulColors Pink Forever, and Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors for the abstract design.
Middle: SinfulColors Pink Forever with OPI Pink-ing of You polka dots, Essie Licorice for Minnie Mouse silhouette, Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors for the bow, and a single pink glitter from Milani Hot Pink.
Ring: Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors.
Pinky: SinfulColors Pink Forever with Julep Kate and Essie Licorice polka dots.

Natural Lighting

Here is the shirt that inspired the design and my sister's Minnie Mouse Ears. (Indoor Lighting.)

Girly Fishtails

This is my second trying out the fishtail/chevron nail art design. I used Chalkboard Nails' video tutorial for a "Candy-Colored Fishtail Manicure". As you see in the video, you just use the brush that comes in the nail polish bottle, and though there may be some clean-up needed, it is a simple technique that I can even execute on my dominant hand as seen below.

I used OPI Pink-ing of You, Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors, and Essie Lapiz of Luxury.

My dominant hand in natural light

My non-dominant hand in artificial light

My non-dominant hand in natural light

Soft Glitzy Pink

I create this soft pink and glitzy look, I painted two coats of OPI Pedal Faster Suzi and one coat each of Essie Shine of the Times and Nicole by OPI Here Kim's the Sun.

In the sunlight pictures, it looks like I have little bubbles in the pink but that is really Here Kim's the Sun. In the shade picture, Here Kim's the Sun is pretty much the only glitter that you see. 

Sunlight

Sunlight

Shade

Purple Jelly

Using Ulta Duty Free Shopping Spree, Nicole by OPI Rainbow in the S-Kylie, and two coats of OPI Passion on top, I created a cotton candy and confetti inspired jelly sandwich.

I love the way it looks in the picture, and that glitter is so pretty in the bottle but there is just something about it that I can't stand once it is on my nails. -_-

Paris Inspired Bridal Shower

I recently went to a Paris themed bridal shower so I decided to paint my nails to fit the occasion.

On both my thumbs I painted a pink base (Essie Delicacy) and three lines of black polka dots (Essie Licorice).

Left Hand: Essie Delicacy as the base. Index Finger: OPI Pirouette My Whistle; Middle: Julep Kate; Ring: Orly Instant Artist Jet Black; Pinky: Julep Kate.

Right Hand: Essie Delicacy as the base except for my ring finger. Index Finger: OPI Pirouette My Whistle; Middle: Julep Kate; Ring: Base is Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors and Cina sqaure rhinestones; Pinkie: Julep Kate.

Left Hand

Right Hand and Thumb

Vintage Abstract Roses

This is my first time trying to paint vintage roses, they turned into abstract vintage roses instead.

For the base color I used Essie Turquoise & Caicos, for the stripes I used Orly Instant Artist Crisp White, for the leaves I used Ulta Limelight, and for the roses I used Ulta Sun-Sational, Cream of the Crop, and OPI Pink-ing of You.

As you can see, my right hand has a more simple design as it is my dominant hand and I can't draw straight stripes with my left hand.

Left Hand

Left Hand

Right Hand